Picking mechanism for looms



. 14, 1943. F. M. MAGEE PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 7, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FRE DERIQK M.MAG-EE ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1943. M, AE 2,336,876

PICKING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July '7, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR FREDERICK M. MAGEE ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE 2,336,876 rroKrNc MECHANISM Fora LOOMS ApplicationJuly 7, 1942, Serial No. 449,999

9 Claims.

This invention relates to picking mechanisms for looms and it is thegeneral object of the-invention to utilize the lay of the loom toprovide the operating force for the picking mechanism.

The usual loom is constructed with a top or crank shaft forreciprocating the lay and has also a bottom shaft for operating thepicking mechanism. The two shafts are geared together so that the bottomshaft makes one revolution every second pick of the loom and the pickingarms on it actuate the picker sticks at the opposite ends of the loom inalternation. It is an important object of my present invention toeliminate the bottom shaft and provide picking arms which are operatedby a force derived from the lay as the latter moves rearwardly.

Looms of the automatic multicolor type usually have a single shuttle boxon one end of the lay and shifting shuttle boxes on the opposite end.The shifting boxes are so constructed that the picker mechanism extendsthrough the actively placed cell on the picking stroke and must be movedinto a non-interfering position before the boxes can shift. It is afurther object of my invention to provide a lay actuated pickingmechanism so controlled as to disable the picker mechanism on thosebeats of the lay when the shuttle boxes shift and thus preventinterference be-' tween the picker and boxes. This result may beaccomplished by providing means for permitting picking at the drop boxend on alternate picks only of the loom. This same mechanism may also beused at the single shuttle box end of the loom if desired.

It is a more specific object of my present invention to provide a systemof links operated by the lay and connected tothe picker stick in such away that the force imparted to the shuttleincreases during the pickingstroke. This increase is due partly to the fact that the lay motion isaccelerating at the time of picking and due partly to the hinged linkswhich are attached by a cone, nector to the picker stick.

. With these and other objects in view whic will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a box loom having certain features of myinvention applied to both ends thereof,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,showing the lay in front,

center position preparatory to a backward stroke to effect picking,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal detailed section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line A@ of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking toward theshifting shuttle box end of the loom,

' Fig. 6 is a detailed horizontal section on line 6-5 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detailed side elevation of one of the picking cams employedin my invention.

Referring particularly-to Figs. 1 and 5, I have shown a loom frame If!and a lay l I mounted onswords 52 supported by a rocker shaft l3journaled in the lower part of the loom frame. The shaft l4corresponding to the usual top shaft has cranks for connectors If bywhich the lay is driven. As the shaft makes a complete rotation the laypasses through the usual front, top, back and center positions for eachpick or beat of the loom. The right hand side of the lay is providedwith a single shuttle box B while the left end of the loom is providedwith a gang G of shifting shuttle boxes mounted on a box lifter rod Hithe vertical position of which is determined by any approved form ofshuttle box operating mechanism.

Theright end of the rocker shaft I3 is pro vided with a rocker foot 20on which is pivoted the lower end of the right hand picker stick 2|, andin similar manner the left end of the rocker shaft is provided with asecond foot'ZZ on which is pivoted the lower end of the left handpickershuttle cells designated at 30, 3|, 32 and 33. The

gang G is a rigid structure having a back wall 34 provided with alongitudinal slot 35. for each of the shuttle cells to receive thepicker 26 when the latter has a picking stroke. The wall 34 does notextend entirely to the outer end of the gang G as viewed in Fig. 1 butterminates short of the position occupied by the picker as shown centerposition on theensuing backward stroke.-

The boxes will not ordinarily shift until a shut tle received from thebox B has entered one or another of the shuttle cells of gang G from boxB, and the picker 2s should'bei m cca position at the beginning of thebox shifting period. as

not to interfere either with the shift or entry of a shuttle into any ofthe shuttle cells.

jlower end of a bottom link 12.

In carrying my invention into effect I. provide a system of linkage foreach of the picker sticks and actuate the linkage by the lay asthelatter moves rearwardly. The right hand rocker foot 20, see Fig. 1, isprovided with an upper extension 40 pivoted at 4! to the lower end of abottom link 42 the upper end of which is jointed or pivoted as at 43 tothe lower end of a second or upper link 4-4. Asweep stick 45 is attachedto'the pi-votal connection 43 at its'left end and is pro:- vided at itsouter end with the usual lug strap'46 which surrounds the picker stick2|. 'While' I have shown a sweep stick connected directly to the pivot43, I do not wish necessarily to be thus limited since itis sufficient!if the sweep stick is connectedtothe links" in such a way as to movewith the latter".

The right hand part of the loom frame is provided with a bearing 50through which extendsby and i'n'oving withthe lay structure. The cam.has a low dwell 5|, see Fig, '7, a riser or incline:

62 comprising the operating surface, andahigh dwell '63. sively bytherolLGB during the rearward movement of the lay, the roll passingunder the team to rock the latter and thereforeth'e arm53 in. aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2' to lift arm 53 and thevuniversal joint 54 to raise link 44.

When the link 44 rises the pivot 43 and. therefore the'sweepstick 45moves tothe l-eft to give: the picker stick its picking stroke. 4-2 andare normally at such an anglethat upward motion of the arm 53 willgive'the'sweep stick 45 a suflicien-t movement for picking as the linksmove from the full to the dotted line position of- Fig. 1. The shuttlein box Bis thus picked to the'opposite side'of the loom, and the,

riserSZ- will be solocated'that the picking stroke occurs approximatelyat the top center position ofthelay. f 7

As the. lay continues to move rear'wardly the roll 5!) will engagethehigh dwell '63 the effect of which isto hold the cam 52 and arm 53 inhigh position to maintain thepicker stick in it'sinwardposition which itoccupies at the end of thepickingstroke. As the lay next "moves for}wardly the roll \i i-ll'meve froin under the riser These surfaces areengaged succes The links B2 and the cam will fall to its normal positionunder action of the usual picker stick return spring 65. In themechanism thus far described the picker stick 2! will operate on eachbackward stroke of the lay but on alternate picks the box B will beempty and the corresponding strokes of the stick will be idle.

Much ofv the mechanism for operating the left hand picker stick 23 isthe same as that already described. The rocker foot 22 has an upwardextension 'Hlwhich is pivoted as at H to the A pivotal connection 13' isprovided between the upper end of the bottom link 12 and the lower endof the top link 14 and is connected at pivot 13 to the sweep stick 15carrying the lug strap 16 which surrounds the picker stick 23. The upperend of link 14 is connected to a universal joint Ti mounted on an arm 18similar to arm 53 and secured to a small shaft F9 rockably mounted inthe left hand part of the loom frame. The shaft 19' has secured theretoa cam which is similar'in its construction to the cam 52 shown in Fig.7, and cooperates with a roll mounted on and moving with the lay.

Inasmuch as the picker 26 must be out of the path of thegang G whenthelatter starts to shift I provide a'control for the roll 85 whichpermitsit to be moved into and out of operating position with respect tocam 80-. A shaft 86 is mounted on bearings 8! extending rearwardly fromthe lay swords l2. The roll 60 is rotatably mounted on the rightend ofthe shaft as viewed in Fig. 1, and the roll 85 is mounted for'rotationand also longitudinal movement along the left end of the shaft. The roll85 is capable of two transversepositions with respect to the loom in oneof which it can operate the cam 89 andin the other of which it passes toone side of the cam without moving it.

Roll 85- is provided with a hub 84, see Fig. 6, grooved as at 88 toreceive'the forked end 89 of the upperarm of a lever 90 pivoted on astud 9| supported by the left handlay sword I2. The lower end of lever99 extends to a point close to the rocker shaft l3 and is pivoted as at93 to a second lever 94' movable about an inclined stud 95 projectingupwardly from a bracket 96 secured to'the: loom frame. A spring 9!connecting lever 94 and the adjacent loomside tends to move the levers90 and 94 in sucha direction as to locate the roll 85 in alignment withthe cam 80. The fit at the pivots SH, 93 and 95 is sufficiently loose topermit movement of the lay without interfering with the motion of levers9D and 94.

In order that the lever 94 may be operated toeffect picking on alternatepicks at the shifting shuttle box end of'the loom I secure a gear I00 tothe top shaft M and a second gear IEH meshingwith it and rotatablefreely on a stud I02 fixed with the loom frame. Gear Hll has twice thepitch diameter of gear H10 and therefore completes a revolution everyother pick of theloom.

The face of gear I BI is provided with a cam I03 for engagementwith theupper right hand end of lever 94' as shown in Fig. 5. This cam has arelatively long high area I04 and a shorter low area The high area I04rocks the levers 90 and 94 in such-a direction as to move the roll 85 toits inoperative position out of alignment with cam 80, while thespring91 hung between lever 94 and the loom frame gives the levers an oppositemovementto move roll 85 to its operative position in alignment with cam80. The lengths of the high and. low dwells are such, and'are so relatedwith respect to the gearing and position of the lay, that the roll 85 isnot moved to its operative position by spring 91 until the lay is onfront center on those picks of the loom When the gang G shifts. As aresult of this relationship there is no operating connection between cam80 and roll 85 when the box shifting interval starts and the returnspring Illl of the picker stick 23 can therefore move the latter and thepicker 25 to their outermost positions out of interfering positionrelatively to gang G before the box shifting interval begins.

As the box shifting interval continues during the first part of thebackward motion of the lay, the roll 85 will engage cam 88 to raise itand cause an operation of the links 12 and 14 similar to the operationalready described for links 42 and 44 to give the picker stick 23 itspicking stroke. This stroke does not start until the gang G iscompletely shifted. At some time subsequent to the picking stroke thehigh dwell I06 acts to move the roll 85 to inoperative position andmaintain it at that position until the lay is on front center during thenext box shifting interval.

In order that some adjustment may be afforded for varying the force ofpicking I may employ the construction shown in Fig. 7 wherein the riser62 is held in position by two set screws I H and I I2. These set screwsare at right angles to each other and extend through slotted webs N3 ofthe cam 52, thus permitting the riser to be moved either toward or fromthe rod 88 for increasing or decreasing, respectively, the force ofpicking, or for permitting the riser to be moved up or down for thepurpose of making the ick late or early.

While I have shown a lay as carrying an actuator immovable relativelythereto for cooperation with a movable part on the loomside, yet I donot wish to be limited to this construction inasmuch as it is sufiicientif one of the cooperating parts is on the lay and the other is on theloom frame and movement of the lay effects movement of the part Which isconnected to the picker stick linkage. It is to be understood that ifdesired the roll 52 may be controlled in the same manner as the roll 85should it be desired to actuate picker stick 2| on alternate picks onlyof the loom.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple form ofpicking mechanism operated by a force derived from the lay andtransmitted from the latter through a system of links to the pickerstick. It will further be seen that the selector or controller for roll85 shifts at such times as to cause the picker stick 23 to operate onalternate beats of the lay. It will also be seen that by having one endof the two jointed normally oblique links connected to an anchored pivotwhile the other link is connected to a movable operating arm the pickerstick is given an accelerated movement as the two links approachalignment. This acceleration is contributed to in part by the effect ofstraightening the links 42 and 44, or 12 and 14, but also to the factthat the lay speed is increasing as the rolls engage their cams.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes andmodifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wishto be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In picking mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating betweenfront and back center positions, a picker stick mounted on the lay to begiven a picking stroke, a pair of links jointed at their adjacent ends,a connection between the picker stick and the jointed ends of saidlinks, means normally to support that end of one of said links remotefrom the other link so that said links are normally angularly disposedwith respect to each other, and means operated by the lay and connectedto said other link to move said links toward a position of alignment andthereby move the jointed ends of said links and said connection to givethe picker stick a picking stroke.

2. In picking mechanism for a loom having a frame member and .a laymember reciprocating between front and back center positions, a pickerstick mounted on the lay to b given a picking stroke, a pair of linkshaving adjacent ends pivoted to each other and connected to the pickerstick and mounted for relative angular movement with respect to eachother, a cam movably mounted on one of said members, means on the othermember to rock said cam as the lay member moves rearwardly, andconnections between said cam and one of said links operative when saidcam is rocked to move said links toward mutual alignment and thereby givthe picker stick a picking stroke.

3. In picking mechanism for a loom having a frame and a layreciprocating between front and back center positions, a picker stickmounted on the lay to be given a picking stroke, a pair of normallyangularly disposed links the adjacent ends of which are jointed, aconnection between the picker stick and the jointed ends of the links,means to mount one of said links for pivotal movement about an axis heldagainst movement toward the other link, a cam movably mounted on theloom frame and operatively connected to said other link, and means onthe lay operative during backward movement of the latter to move saidcam and cause said links to move toward a position of alignment withrespect to each other and thereby move the jointed ends of said links.and said connection to give the picker stick a picking stroke.

4. In picking mechanism for a loom having a frame and a layreciprocating between front and back center positions, a picker stickmounted on the lay to be given a picking stroke, a pair of jointed linkshaving their adjacent ends connected to each other and to the pickerstick, a cam movably mounted on the loom frame and extendingtransversely of the lay, a ball and socket joint operatively connectingsaid cam to that end of one of said links remote from the other link,means to mount the other link for movement in a plane parallel to thatin which the picker stick swings, th link being normally angularlydisposed with respect to each other, and means on the lay operativeduring backward movement of the latter to rock said cam and cause saidlinks to move toward a position of mutual alignment and thereby give thepicker stick a picking stroke.

5. In picking mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating betweenfront and back center positions, a picker stick mounted on the lay to begiven a picking stroke, a link th lower end of which is pivoted withrespect to the lay, a second link the lower end of which is pivoted tothe upper end of the first link, a connection between the picker stickand the mutually pivoted ends of said links, said links normally beingangularly disposed with respect to each other, and means operated by thelay as the latter moves rearwardly to raise, the. upper end of thesecond link, and move said links to-. ward .a position of alignment tomove said connection and thereby give the picker stick a picking stroke.

6. In picking mechanism for a loom having a frame and a layreciprocating between front and back center positions and provided witha gang of shuttle boxes movable during a shifting period, picker meansto cooperate with a shuttle in said gang and normally out of the path ofshifting of said shuttle boxes, a rockable cam mounted onthe loom frame,a pair of links pivoted together and normally oblique with respect toeach other, means to connect said links to said picker means, a supportfor one of said links, means to connect the other link to said cam, anactuator for the cam mounted on the lay for movement into and out ofoperating position with respect to the cam, and mechanism operative onthose picks of the loom when the shifting period occurs to move theactuator out of operating relation with respect to said cam and movesaid actuator into operative relation with respect to said cam ontheintervening picks of the loom.

'7, In picking mechanism for a 100m having a frame member and a laymember reciprocating between front and back center positions, a gang ofshuttle boXes shiftable during a shifting period occurring on alternatebeats of the lay, picker means normally out of the path of shifting ofthe shuttle boxes but movable into the path of the shifting boxes whenhaving a picking stroke, a rockable cam mounted on one of said members,a pair of links pivoted together and normally oblique with respect toeach other, means to connect said links to said picker means, a supportfor one of said links, means to connect the other link to said cam, acam actuator on the other of said members movable into and out ofoperative position with respect to said cam, and mechanism operative onthose Picks of the loom when the shifting period for said shuttle boxesoccurs to effect relative separation of the actuator from the cam toprevent actuation thereof, said mechanism operative on the interveningpicks of the loom to cause cooperation between said actuator and cam toactuate the latter by a force derived from the lay member.

8. In picking mechanism for a loom having a reciprocating lay andshuttle boxes movable during shifting periods which occur on alternatebeats of the lay, picker means to cooperate with the shuttles in saidshifting shuttle boxes, one shuttle at a time, two mechanisms forcooperative relation with respect to each other to effect operation ofthe picker means, one of said mechanisms being mounted on the lay andmoving with the latter to operate the other mechanism, the lattermechanism comprising normally oblique jointed links connected to thepicker means, a support for on of the links, and means to operate theother link by a force derived from the first mechanism, and controlmeans for one of said mechanisms to prevent cooperative relation of saidmechanisms during those picks of the loom in-which the shifting periodof the shuttle boxes occurs and caus cooperative relation between saidmechanisms during the intervening picks of the loom.

9.'In picking mechanism for looms having a reciprocating lay providedwith shuttle boxes which move relatively to the lay during a shiftingperiod occurring on alternate beats of the lay, picker means to be givena picking stroke to pick a shuttle in said shuttle boxes, two mechanismsfor cooperative relation one of which is mounted on and moves with thelay and the other of which comprises normally oblique jointed linksconnected to the picker means, a support for one of the links, andactuator means to operate the other links by a force derived from thefirst mechanism, said mechanisms effective to give the picker means apicking stroke by a force derived from the lay when said mechanisms havecooperative relation incident to lay movement, and control mechanism toeffect relative movement of said first named mechanism and said actuatormeans to prevent cooperative relation thereof on those picks of the loomduring which said shifting period occurs and cause cooperative relationbetween said first named mechanism and said actuator means on theintervening picks of the loom.

FREDERICK M. MAGEE.

